Slimmed-down Pablo Sandoval gets hitting tips from Barry Bonds

SAN FRANCISCO – Pablo Sandoval enlisted some world-class help in his attempt to revive his career – as in home run king Barry Bonds and former Olympic decathlon champion Dan O'Brien.

Looking slimmer than last season – he would not specify how much weight he has lost – the San Francisco Giants' third baseman said he has engaged in strenuous workouts during the offseason, to the point of vomiting during runs up a hill in Arizona.

Sandoval said he worked out three times a week with O'Brien, who won the gold medal in the 1996 Games in Atlanta, and got some coaching over the phone from Bonds.

His advice was simple: "Get a good pitch at the plate and hit it.''

Sandoval acknowledged he was out of shape last season but said that wasn't the reason his production dropped so precipitously. His OPS shrank by more than 200 points and he went from a .330 average, 25 home runs and 90 RBI in 2009 to .268, 13 homers and 63 RBI, often looking lost at the plate.

"It was mostly my mental focus because of a lot of things that happened last year,'' Sandoval said. "I'm not even the same person I was last year. I've learned a lot, and I benefited from staying here in the United States in the offseason and finding myself as a person.''

Sandoval, who got divorced last year, said reaching a custody agreement to see his daughter during spring training and the season has brought him peace of mind.

"Thankfully I was able to go to Venezuela and share eight or 10 days with her, hear the sweet things a 3-year-old says,'' said Sandoval, 24. "I came back happy and determined to move forward for her.''

The switch-hitting Sandoval batted just .227 right-handed and .208 overall on the road, prompting manager Bruce Bochy to platoon him toward the end of the season. He played in only six of the Giants' 15 postseason games and just once in the World Series.

Sandoval, who batted .345 as a rookie in 2008 before finishing second in the National League batting race the next year, said he took his success for granted.

"You think you have it made and then realize the most important thing is not to reach the big leagues, but to stay,'' Sandoval said. "I've acknowledged my mistakes and I'm working very hard. I had lost my confidence and now I have it back one thousand percent. I'm the same Pablo I was in 2008 and 2009.''

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